People who have been following Sungold for some time know that we’ve been at the forefront of manufacturing flexible solar panels and dedicated RV solar solutions. Tens of thousands of RVs have adopted our panels. When we first designed flexible solar panels for RVs, we weren’t entirely sure how they would perform in daily use. But after 15 years of research, we aimed for them to become an indispensable part of a successful solar array, collecting the energy we need for extended off-grid living.
So today, we’re delving into flexible solar panels for your RV – the pros, the cons, some crucial considerations, and the best flexible solar panels available in the market today. Keep reading to compare our top panels and see how they can power your next off-grid adventure.
What are flexible solar panels?
Flexible solar panels are encapsulated in thin, lightweight materials that can be bent or curved slightly. This sets them apart from rigid solar panels that encase solar cells in glass. The front of flexible solar panels is transparent, allowing sunlight to pass through and reach the solar cells, enabling them to generate electricity.
What are the benefits of RV flexible solar panels?
Solar panels have many advantages in RV applications. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages of flexible solar panels in RVs compared to traditional solar panels
Inside flexible solar panels, busbars connect the solar cells to an MC4 or similar connector at one end of the panel. This allows the panel to be connected to another panel (in series or parallel) or linked to a solar controller located between the panel and the RV battery bank.
Is there anything else you would like to know or translate?
Flexibility
First and foremost is the flexibility and lightweight nature of flexible solar panels, which is a crucial consideration depending on where you want to place the solar panels. They don’t require professional installers and can be self-installed or applied to roofs with curved surfaces.
Some RVs have limited roof space, making it challenging to install traditional solar panels. Flexible panels offer an easier workaround for space constraints. They can also be designed exceptionally flexibly to adapt to the RV’s roof. The flexibility of RV solar panels benefits not only those without large drilling equipment but also those who wish to maximize solar panel placement at various angles.
We installed flexible solar panels on the RV roof because we needed some thin, lightweight, flexible solar panels to share space with everything else we had installed there.
Therefore, the flexibility of flexible solar panels makes them highly versatile. It’s worth noting that excessive bending of flexible solar panels can potentially damage the solar cells, so handling them with care is necessary during both pre-installation and installation.
Please note that flexibility can also be a downside. Overly bending flexible solar panels can seriously damage the solar cells, so careful handling is required during both pre-installation and installation.
Lightweight
The weight of flexible solar panels is much lighter compared to rigid solar panels, which is another significant advantage. All RVs aim to reduce the weight of their equipment in any way possible. Flexible solar panels are 80% lighter than rigid ones, and this is a very noticeable difference in weight. This difference allows you to install larger solar arrays on smaller RVs, especially considering that some RVs have weight restrictions when on the road.
Easy to Install
Flexible solar panels are incredibly easy to install. Many of them come with adhesive backing, but regardless of the method, installing flexible solar panels is a breeze. All you need to do is clean the area where you want to place the panel, adhere to the panel (avoiding any uneven surfaces that could affect the adhesive’s bonding ability), and then seal around the edges with high-quality sealing tape. That’s it! There’s no simpler way to install solar panels on your RV.
Fewer Holes to Drill/No Need for Mounting Brackets
Another advantage of flexible solar panels for RVs is that they require fewer holes to be drilled on the roof since there’s no need for mounting brackets. It’s best to minimize the number of holes we drill on our RVs. Typically, a flexible solar panel array may require drilling one hole, at least, for a pair of wires to enter the interior of the RV and connect to the solar charge controller. This, of course, depends on your specific installation. Some RVs, especially those with DIY campers, can install flexible solar panels without drilling any new holes. Many other RV enthusiasts route solar panel wires into the RV through the roof vent of the RV fridge, eliminating the need for drilling new holes. However, in general, most installations find a single hole for wiring, and that’s it. This is a significant advantage compared to drilling multiple mounting bracket holes for rigid panels.
What are the disadvantages of flexible solar panels for rv?
Like anything else, using flexible solar panels also comes with disadvantages, and it’s up to individual RVers to determine whether the pros outweigh the cons, or vice versa, based on their specific application. Let’s take a look at the drawbacks of using flexible solar panels for RVs.
Possible Heat Dissipation Issues
From the current state of solar cell technology, it’s evident that both flexible and glass-laminated solar panels have similar efficiency. There is no significant efficiency difference between them. However, concerns arise regarding the heat dissipation of flexible solar panels when installed on an RV’s roof.
Since flexible panels are directly adhered to the roof without airflow underneath, they tend to have less heat dissipation. As a result, the solar panels themselves can become very hot, especially in summer, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 150 degrees, depending on your location. This high temperature can negatively impact the solar efficiency of flexible panels, as they perform poorly in hot conditions.
The electrical performance of our 150W flexible solar panels is nearly identical to the Sungold 160W rigid solar panels installed beside them. Under the same conditions (lighting, temperature, wind, sunlight exposure, etc., including the tilt angle as we can tilt the rigid panels), the output power of the flexible panels matches that of the rigid panels, at around 22.62%. However, there can be heat buildup on the flexible panels (even without tilting, the rigid panels are typically located about 1-2 inches above the roof’s surface, allowing airflow underneath).
The ETFE polymer surface on the TF series panels is highly transparent, which enhances light conversion and provides scratch-resistant protection. These panels are waterproof and can withstand extreme weather conditions, including strong winds and snow loads. They come with MC4 connectors, the industry standard for easy panel interconnection.
The TF models come with a five-year workmanship and materials warranty, which covers defects or issues resulting from manufacturing defects or material flaws. You also get a 25-year power warranty with the following performance guarantees:
– 95% output coverage after five years
– 90% output coverage after ten years
– 80% output coverage after 25 years
Additionally, over time, heat accumulation can reduce the lifespan of the panels. Therefore, under the same conditions, the lifespan of flexible solar panels may not be as long as that of traditional glass panels.
Insulation on the surface of dark-colored flexible panels can also be a concern, potentially allowing heat to enter the RV during hot summers (though there have been no reported cases of heat damaging the underlying roof material).
Some RV owners attempt to mitigate the heat issue to some extent by using various techniques (nylon straps, PVC pipes, etc.) to install flexible panels in a way that allows some heat dissipation while still securely affixing the panels to the surface. However, all these additional efforts offset many of the benefits of easy installation associated with flexible panels.
Durability/Lifespan
Compared to rigid panels, the durability and lifespan of flexible solar panels tend to be lower. This means you may be more likely to replace flexible panels before needing to replace rigid ones.
Whether this is a concern for you or not depends on your perspective, and most RV users who install flexible panels may not be overly concerned about lifespan. In general, the expected lifespan of rigid solar panels is around 25-30 years. In contrast, the lifespan of flexible panels may be around 10-15 years (although flexible panels are relatively new in the market, so there isn’t as much real-world data to determine how long they can last).
Which are the best flexible solar panels for rv
“Sungold TF 100W Solar Kit
These are the flexible panels we have. While they certainly come at a higher price, they are well-made, efficient, and durable. So far, they have proven to be sturdier and more robust than any other flexible solar panels we’ve encountered.
These panels come with adhesive almost all around the edges, eliminating the need for additional taping with Eternabond, VHB tape, or any other adhesive.
Since installation, we haven’t encountered any issues with water, and the panels have shown no loss of adhesion through thousands of miles of travel and numerous storms.
We are very satisfied with these panels and their output. They have worked well for us and have shown no signs of aging or degradation even after several years of continuous exposure to sunlight and natural conditions.
The TF series offers a 5-year product warranty.”
Are flexible solar panels for RV worth it?
For certain applications, flexible solar panels are definitely worth the investment. Their flexibility allows them to be used on many curved surfaces found in various RVs, including B-class RVs with smaller roofs, teardrop campers, Airstream RVs with curved roofs, DIY camper vans, and large A-class RVs like ours.
After weighing the pros and cons of flexible solar panels, we decided to give them a try, and without a doubt, we are satisfied with the TF series panels. While flexible solar panels may not be suitable for all RVs or applications, they have filled a niche market in the RV industry, and travelers will appreciate this market in the coming years.
